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Resume Primer
Resumes and cover letters are important self-marketing
tools. Both are key to deciding whether or not you will be invited
to interview and excellent interviews, of course, will be key to
gaining a job offer. As with each component of the career development/job
search process, producing a successful resume and cover letter requires
time and effort but the investment of care and energy will pay off.
When you have completed a self assessment; described your ideal
job; articulated your career goal; networked and gathered information
concerning required experience, education and professional competencies;
you are prepared to respond to potential employers by sending/delivering
a cover letter and resume.
Resume Tips:
The goal of an effective resume is to present your
competencies and credentials in an inviting way to prospective employers.
Resumes that attract the attention of employers introduced an interesting
candidate who appears to have "what it takes" (in the
employer’s mind) to step into a job immediately.
"What it takes" will vary from employer
to employer. Often nurses seeking a position and those hiring for
it have different ideas about the competencies required to do the
job well. Or, nurses and employers may share the same beliefs about
preparedness but talk about the required skills differently. Since
mind-reading is not a common skill, your ability to anticipate the
qualifications that will ensure a perfect fit will be greatly enhanced
by time spent in informational interviewing, networking and information
gathering. Through these world assessment activities, you will identify
the generally required competencies for a particular role. You may
also learn about the ways in which nurses describe their knowledge-base
and skills in that practice arena. Remember the objective of an
effective resume is to present you honestly and understandably to
potential employers. Consequently, the more information you can
collect about the specifics of a job before you must submit your
resume and cover letter, the better. Just as with most career maintenance/job
search activities, there isn’t a right or wrong way to write a resume.
There are important guidelines, however.
- Tailor your resume to the position/role you are
seeking
- A resume can be longer than one page, but try
not to provide any more information than is relevant.
Many nurses have had moderately lengthy careers.
One page would not do justice to the experience you have accumulated
nor demonstrate your ability to take advantage of opportunities.
On the other hand, listing all of your job responsibilities may
not be relevant either. Be selective.
- Always proof-read and spell-check your resume
multiple times to eliminate misspellings, awkward wording, and/or
duplication of information.
- Share your resume with trusted colleagues and
mentors who will provide important improving feedback.
- Choose one font and stick with it. Some employers
use optical scanners to review resumes initially. Scanners may
be unable to accurately decode multiple types of faces within
the same document.
In a competitive job market, nothing will replace
a direct match between the competencies you bring and those an employer
is seeking. Text (the way you describe your skills and experience)
is key. Sometimes, however, the employer fails to recognize that
perfect match because she/he is unable to read your resume easily.
There are two issues here. First, it is extremely important to present
information in a manner that is readily available visually. For
example, bullets tend to emphasize a change in thought or a new
item versus burring text in paragraph form. If you decide to use
paragraphs, be certain to space them well and select a clear type
face. Try to limit them to not more than three sentences. Second,
in today’s world of computer-generated documents, everything
looks professionally done. Your resume must also.
- Label each page of your resume with your name
and the page number. This is typically done at the top of the
page.
- If you are transitioning from one practice arena
to another (e.g. acute care to ambulatory care) or are changing
roles (e.g. staff nurse to nurse practitioner), you might consider
including a section entitled, "Selected Professional Competencies"
or "Professional Summary."
By bulleting ideas or writing a concise paragraph,
hi-light all of the relevant experience and accrued competency required
for the position you are seeking. For example, if you are a staff
nurse who has been working in an acute care setting and you are
seeking a first-time position in home care, you might want to emphasize
your years of experience with people of all ages and medical conditions,
your physical assessment skills, your expertise in providing skilled
nursing care, your ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively
and your experience as a member of the discharge planning/continuing
care team. This section should immediately follow your stated "Career"
or "Employment Objective."
Cover Letters
The purpose of a cover letter is to create a mental
image of you as the perfect candidate for the job you are seeking.
As with the resume, there is not a right or wrong way to write a
cover letter, but there are guidelines.
- Type/computer generate a separate cover letter
for each position
You will be able to use the same well-crafted sentences
in many cases, but you will want to personalize them to each employment
situation.
- Appearance counts. Laser print the letter on
the same paper stock as you have selected for your resume; preferably
standard letter size, white or ivory rag paper.
- Attempt to identify the name of the nurse recruiter
in the Human Resource Department or, if all else fails, the Nurse
Manager of the area that you have interest in.
- Limit your cover letter to one page.
- Typically, a cover letter takes the following
form:
The first paragraph includes
a sentence that identifies the job you are applying for and
the precise manner in which you learned about the job. Use the
job title that appears in the advertisement or job posting.
Sometimes a job number is listed. Be certain to include it.
For example, if you learned about a job opening in the newspaper
on August, 2002 or from Jane Smith, Staff Nurse on 4 North or
by visiting the Human Resource Department and viewing the job
postings; or on the Internet – write exactly that. Be
certain to get permission to use a colleagues name in your cover
letter. If you are invited to apply for a position, certainly
indicate that. Request permission to include the name of the
person who extended the invitation.
The second paragraph is the one
in which you must paint a concise, word picture of yourself.
Your goal is to create a mental image in the employer’s
mind of you in the job that you are seeking. Use about three
or four sentences to do so. Again, this is where your information
gathering will pay off.
The third and last paragraph
should indicate your enthusiasm for the opportunity to interview,
your willingness to provide additional information and a date
when you will telephone to confirm receipt of your cover letter
and enclosed resume. Thank the reader for his/her consideration.
If you provide a date on which you will follow-up, do so. If
you cannot commit to following up, don’t indicate that
you will.
The Interview
Opportunities to interview mark the final hurdle
at the end of the job search process. Interviews are extended only
to those nurses who appear qualified and of interest to fill an
advertised position; therefore, you should celebrate your achievement
when you are invited to interview. Prepare well, remember to smile
and have a wonderful adventure. No matter the outcome, you will
learn a great deal.
Some suggestions:
- Always Prepare for the interview.
Review any information you have about the hiring
agency and position: the position posting, a lengthier job description,
information about the facility or organization. Think about
the qualifications you would bring to this position/organization.
Practice summarizing these qualifications to a colleague.
- Visualize yourself interviewing successful.
Visualization is a technique that is being utilized
by more and more successful professionals in business and sports.
Imagine yourself meeting your interviewer, feeling comfortable
in the setting, and responding with ease to questions asked.
- Rehearse responding to questions that are
often asked in some form.
For example:
- Identify your strengths.
- Identify one of your professional weaknesses.
(Remember, identifying a weakness then immediately describe
how you have been working to eliminate it or improve your performance).
- Identify the nursing theory that guides your
practice.
- Describe an example of how you have handled
an emergency, stress on the job, and/or
conflict with other employees/head Nurse.
- Arrive promptly.
- Dress professionally/conservatively.
- Bring extra copies of your resume, cover
letter, reference list and/or letters of reference.
- Maintain eye contact that is culturally
sensitive of the interviewer.
- Limit gestures.
- Listen carefully to each question asked
to assure that you answer precisely the question being asked and
not one you have anticipated.
- At the end of the interview, thank your
interviewer for his/her time. You
may certainly ask about the next step(s) in the process. For example,
will there be other interviews? With whom will you be interviewing
with? When might you hear about the outcome of the search process?
Within 24 hours of the interview, prepare a computer-generated
thank you note to the interviewer. This is a perfect opportunity
to emphasize points you made—or perhaps failed to make—during
the interview.
A successful job search process is often a lengthy
journey. An unknown author once described this process as "No."
"No." "No." "No." "No."
"No." "No."... "Yes." Thoughtfully
orchestrated efforts are certain to end "yes" and will,
most likely, be expedited by careful preparation.
Opening doors in a competitive job market can be
challenging. You have invested heavily in remaining competent. Protect
your investment. Let your strengths shine as you write your cover
letter or prepare your resume.
Process of Resume DevelopmentSELF ASSESSMENT: Key successful self-presentation is thorough
self assessment.
What might you include?
- Consider your values.
What is of primary importance to you: meaningful
work, time with your family, leisure time, and friends/community,
a job that will challenge you and yet allow you time to continue
your education or develop a vocation like music, acting, power,
or money?
List of some of your values. Prioritize them
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
- What are your interests?
List your interests. (e.g. Exercise? Travel? History?
Reading? Cooking?)
_______________________________________________________________
- Review your competencies.
List your skills/competencies.
Clinical Competencies: (e.g. physical assessment
skills, peripheral venipuncture, arrhythmia interpretation, work
organization, etc.)
Communication/Public Relations: (e.g. listening,
mediating, presenting ideas, public speaking, writing, computer
skills)
Leadership: (e.g. influencing, persuading, suggesting
direction, setting the tone, orchestrating activities, team building)
Management: (e.g. analyzing, planning, implementing,
evaluating, budgeting, coordinating, scheduling)
Developing People: (e.g. teaching, training,
counseling, coaching, motivating, precepting)
- List your certifications.
Example #1:
Title: Advanced Cardiac
Life Support Credentials: ACLS
Agency: American Heart
Association Dates: 1995-Present
Example #2
Registered Nurse, Certified Specialist
RN, CS
American Nurses Credentialing
Center 1992 – Present
-
List the Professional Associations to
which you belong or have belonged. (1) List the activities and/or
committees in which you have participated and the dates you
did so. (2) List the offices you have held and
the dates of your term(s).
-
List awards you have received.
- Career Objective: Write a single, succinct
career objective. Begin with an action verb and limit your objective
to approximately 20 words. An effective statement will serve as
a guidepost directing you to your work choices. Try not to limit
your statements to what you believe your work
options are but rather focus on what you prefer them to be.
WORLD ASSESSMENT:
Now that you have completed a thorough
self-assessment, begin to review the information you have been gathering
through networking, informational interviews, library/Internet explorations
and other efforts. The purpose of a world assessment is to better
understand the world of work—in the case of nurses: the changing
health care delivery system.
- List some roles/jobs that interest
you.
_______________________________________________________________
- Identify the key competencies that are
required to do these jobs or assume these
roles. Job descriptions and/or discussions with nurses who
hold these roles are very useful at this stage.
_______________________________________________________________
POSITIONING SKILLS:
Having completed a careful self-assessment, written
a career objective that embodies what you would like to do professionally,
spent some time learning about the changes in the health care environment
and the job/roles you would like to pursue, you are ready to position
yourself within the workplace as you would prefer. To do so, think
about the following in preparation for drafting/refining your resume,
preparing cover letters and interviewing.
- Think about the competencies that you have listed
on your self-assessment and those that you currently have. How
well do these competencies match those required by the jobs/roles
you have explored?
- Which competencies do you have that the chosen
job(s)/role(s) require?
- Which competencies might you need to develop?
With the competencies that you possess, begin to
draft/refine your resume. A working format of a chronological resume
is attached. Remember, there isn’t a "right" way.
Use the working format only as a guide.
NAME, CREDENTIALS
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number
E-Mail Address
CAREER OBJECTIVE: (Optional)
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
SELECTED CLINICAL OR PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES:
(Optional)
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
- _______________________________________________________
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
(May be divided into "related experience"
and "additional experience" or "selected experience")
Name of most recent employer, City, State Dates
Role – Unit/Division
(Numbers & Nature of population served)
- Manage complex care for 7 critically ill adults
- Supervise and delegate care to 2 nursing assistants
- Precept newly employed/transferred nurses
- Serve as a member of/Chair the ______________
committee
- Designed a patient teaching tool for patients
which ...
- Other
Other employers – same form as above
CERTIFICATIONS:
Sample form:
American Heart Association
Basic Life Support (BCLS)
1998-Present
Institutional Certification/XYZ Hospital
Conscious Sedation
Telemetry
EDUCATION:
Educational Institutional, Anywhere, MA
Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing
1995
Associate of Science with a major in Nursing
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Massachusetts Nurses Association
1999-Present
JANE SMITH
7 Caring Lane
Anywhere, MA 10101
123-456-7890
E-Mail: Jsmith@aol.com
CAREER OBJECTIVE: to continue to develop
my clinical competence through employment as a critical care staff
nurse in a large teaching hospital. Or POSITION
OBJECTIVE: Obtain a position in _________________utilizing
my extensive experience in ____________________________.
SELECTED CLINICAL COMPETENCIES:
- provided comprehensive care to patients with
complex medical/surgical conditions requiring highly technical
interventions, i.e., Epidural Pain Management, Cardio version.
- preceptor for new staff
- ACLS certified
- Peripheral Venipuncture Telemetry Certification
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Spencer Hospital, Metropolitan, MA
1992-Present
Staff Nurse & Rotating Charge – 40
Bed Post
Intensive Care Unit
- Provided comprehensive care to an average of
7 acutely ill patients of various ages and ethnic backgrounds
consequent to medical emergencies, trauma and surgical interventions
- Supported patients and families in managing emotional
issues associated with critical illness
- Participated in continuing care planning
- Collaborated in a design of Critical Care Maps
for patients with radical neck procedures
- Chaired the Unit’s JCAHO site visit preparation
committee (1996)
The Medical Center, Anywhere, MA
1990-1992
Staff Nurse – Medical West
- Served as the Primary nurse to 10 patients on
a 32 bed unit specializing in the care of people with respiratory-related
illness
CERTIFICATIONS:
American Heart Association
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
1992-Present
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
1990-Present
EDUCATION:
University of Anywhere, Anywhere, MA
Bachelor of Science in Nursing cum laude
1996
The Medical Center, Anywhere, MA
Diploma 1990
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Massachusetts Nurses Association
Member: Nurse Practice Committee
1996-Present
Convention Committee
1994
Full Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number
Objective:
(Although this is optional, many people believe
that it is important to provide a sentence about the job that you
are seeking. Often people develop several different resumes that
begin with different objectives and emphasize different knowledge
bases, competencies and skills in the body).
Professional Experience:
Spencer Hospital, Metropolis, MA
Staff Nurse and Rotating Charge/Surgical Intensive
Care Unit (6/91-Present)
- Managed care for 5 acutely ill patients immediately
following complex surgical procedures
- Participated in continuing care planning
- Collaborated in the design of Critical Care Maps
for ...
- Chaired the JCAHO site visit committee ...
(Continue listing employers in reverse chronological
order. If you have not worked at other agencies, but instead have
worked on various units and/or in a variety of capacities, you may
list those jobs in reverse order. Leave a space between each work
experience and identify several (not more than five) unique components
of each position. Bullet each of these components. Use an action
verb to start each element (e.g. managed, collaborated, and chaired).
People believe that you must list only the past ten years of work
assignments and can abbreviate other experiences prior to that time.
This really depends upon what you choose to emphasize).
Education:
University of __________________, City
Master of Science in Nursing – Currently
enrolled
University of Massachusetts/Boston
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1990
Graduated cum laude
Diploma and/or Associate Degree Program
Certification:
ACLS Certified
IV Certified
Professional Associations:
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